7 Tips for Saving Money on Common Household Buys

These days, we’re all looking for more ways to save money. Whether it’s cutting down your household energy expenses by spending more time in your Christmas jumper or switching bills for your gas supplier, there are countless ways that you can be more frugal.

One of the simplest ways to cut down on your expenses is simply to look at your shopping list and think carefully about the common household items you buy every week, or month. Sometimes, these small items can quickly drain your budget, so it’s worth considering whether you might be able to cut costs somewhere. Here, we’ll look at just some of the ways you can save money on everyday expenses.

1. Buy in Bulk

While there are certain purchases you’ll only make a couple of times a year (like buying a tree for the holidays for instance), there are other buys that seem to recur on a monthly basis. If you’re constantly spending a significant amount of your cash on things like kitchen roll and toilet paper, consider buying a large amount of this substance in bulk. So long as you have somewhere to store your extras, you’ll find that you can save a lot of money.

2. Live on Lists

Sometimes, it’s not the things that we buy every week that end up draining our bank accounts, but those last-minute purchases that we make without thinking. If you want to ensure that you’re only spending cash on thee things you need the most, commit yourself to making a list of everything you need in a week, or month. That way you won’t accidentally overspend. Remember to check things off as you buy them too, so you don’t accidentally re-buy something you think you still need.

3. Consider Own-Brand Items

When it comes to making those common purchases on things like bread, milk, and toilet paper, do you find yourself choosing a luxury brand over the store’s own label whenever you can? Though you might have convinced yourself that you can only eat beans that come from a certain manufacturer, the truth is that most of the off-brand stuff will taste the same, so you should probably give it a try. Try testing your family out on one own-brand item at a time without telling them that you’ve made the switch, to see if they can tell the difference.

4. Use Cashback or Voucher Codes

Today there are countless cashback websites available to help you save money when you’re shopping both online and offline but you should also try voucher code websites like dealsdaddy and hotdiscountcode to get the best deal. The mistake that many consumers make, is assuming that these websites are only for big-ticket purchases. You can actually get cash back on more things than you might think, including your food shopping and regular expenses. At the same time, a lot of cashback websites also offer exclusive vouchers and discount coupons for you to use online too!

5. Don’t Try to Keep Up with the Neighbours

It’s tempting to feel as though you need to buy something new every time your friend or someone close comes over to tell you about their flat-screen Tv or their brand-new gaming console. However, the truth is that you don’t need any of these things. Instead of comparing the things you own to the people around you, try making a list of the purchases you want the most, and working towards getting them with a carefully planned budget.

6. Don’t Automatically Renew

One of the most common household expenses that we rarely think about, insurance, is also one of the things that can take the biggest chunk out of our household budget. If you think you’re paying over the odds for everything from your home insurance, to your car insurance, make sure that you take the time to check out some of the alternative options online with a comparison checker. Don’t allow your coverage to simply roll over for another year.

7. Track your Energy Expenses

Finally, a lot of households spend more money on gas and electricity than they realise -, particularly during the winter months. It’s much easier to find yourself overspending in these areas if you don’t know how much it costs to keep the lights on in your home when you’re at work or leave your television on standby. Getting a smart meter that allows you to track exactly how much you’re spending could be the easiest way to get your finances in check. Many energy providers are now willing to give these tech gadgets out to their customers for free, so make sure you check to see whether you can grab one.